Esther 9 2

Esther 9:2 kjv

The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

Esther 9:2 nkjv

The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.

Esther 9:2 niv

The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them.

Esther 9:2 esv

The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.

Esther 9:2 nlt

The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king's provinces to attack anyone who tried to harm them. But no one could make a stand against them, for everyone was afraid of them.

Esther 9 verses

Esther 9 2 meaning

Esther 9:2 describes how the Jewish people, emboldened by the king's new decree, assembled in their respective cities across the Persian Empire. Their purpose was to defend themselves against those who had planned to harm them. No adversary could withstand them, because a divinely inspired fear of the Jews had fallen upon all the other inhabitants, crippling their opposition and facilitating the Jews' victory.

Esther 9 2 Context

Esther 9:2 occurs on the 13th day of the twelfth month, Adar, which was the date originally decreed by Haman for the annihilation of all Jews. Due to Mordecai's intercession and Esther's bravery, a second royal decree had been issued in Esther chapter 8. This counter-decree, though it could not revoke the immutable Persian law of Haman's original edict, granted the Jews throughout the empire the right to assemble, to defend themselves, and to destroy anyone who might attack them on that appointed day. Esther 9:1 describes how this day arrived and how the situation was reversed for the Jews. Verse 2 specifically elaborates on how the Jews' defensive action played out, highlighting their unity and the widespread fear that worked in their favor, rendering their enemies helpless. Historically, the Persian Empire was vast, making such widespread coordinated self-defense both necessary and extraordinary, enabled by the king's letters.

Esther 9 2 Word analysis

• The Jews (הַיְּהוּדִים - hay'yehūdīm): Refers to the collective Israelite diaspora scattered across King Ahasuerus's 127 provinces. This designation became more prominent after the Babylonian exile, identifying the covenant people distinct from other nationalities. Their unity in action is significant.
• gathered themselves together (נִקְהֲלוּ - niq'halū): This word, a Niph'al perfect, indicates a voluntary and purposeful assembly. It suggests coordinated effort and mutual support among the scattered Jewish communities, enabled by the new decree which explicitly permitted them to gather for self-defense (Esther 8:11).
• in their cities (בְעָרֵיהֶם - be'ārehêm): Emphasizes that the action was decentralized yet widespread, happening wherever Jews resided, reflecting the broad reach of both Haman's decree and the counter-decree. It points to localized, collective self-defense rather than a centralized military campaign.
• throughout all the provinces (בְּכָל מְדִינוֹת - bekhōl medînōt): "Provinces" (medinōt) signifies the vast administrative divisions of the Persian Empire, underscoring the universal nature of the threat and the universal reach of the king's new decree. It highlights the unprecedented scale of the self-defense operation.
• to lay hand on (לִשְׁלֹחַ יָד - liš'lōaḥ yād): Literally "to send out hand." This idiom implies exercising power or taking action against someone. In this context, it refers to defensive action permitted by the royal decree (Esther 8:11) for self-preservation.
• those who sought their hurt (בְּמְבַקְשֵׁי רָעָתָם - bimvaq'shê rā‘ātām): Describes their aggressors as those who were actively "seeking their harm/evil." This clarifies the defensive nature of the Jews' actions; they targeted only those with malicious intent against them, not arbitrary violence. This specification reinforces the legality and justification of their response.
• and no man could stand (וְאִישׁ לֹא עָמַד - ve'īš lō ʿāmad): This phrase signifies complete inability to resist or oppose. It indicates the utter paralysis and helplessness of their enemies in the face of the Jewish counter-action, portraying an overwhelming, divinely-enabled superiority.
• before them (לִפְנֵיהֶם - lifnêhem): "Before their presence," emphasizing the direct confrontation and the decisive outcome where enemies crumbled immediately.
• for the fear (פַּחְדָּם - paḥdām) of them had fallen (נָפַל - nāfal): "Fear" (paḥd) denotes a profound terror or dread. The verb "fallen" (nāfal) is significant, implying a divinely orchestrated imposition. It wasn't just human intimidation; a supernatural dread descended upon the peoples, incapacitating their will to fight. This echoes numerous instances in Scripture where God instills fear in enemies to protect His people.
• upon all peoples (עַל כָּל הָעַמִּים - ‘al kol hā‘ammīm): "All peoples" signifies not only the direct adversaries but also the broader populace who witnessed or became aware of the unfolding events. This widespread fear serves to further protect the Jews by deterring potential attackers, highlighting the powerful, visible impact of the divine favor on the Jewish people.

Esther 9 2 Bonus section

The profound fear mentioned in this verse served not only as a deterrent but also as a sign of divine favor. It elevated the status of the Jews in the eyes of their gentile neighbors. Many in the provinces likely recognized God's protective hand on them, perhaps even leading to conversion as mentioned in Esther 8:17, where "many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews." This transformation from despised outcasts to those commanding respect and fear demonstrates the comprehensive reversal brought about by divine providence. The events of this day would become the basis for the feast of Purim, forever marking God's deliverance without a direct word from Him.

Esther 9 2 Commentary

Esther 9:2 illustrates the powerful culmination of God's hidden hand working through providential circumstances. While God's name is conspicuously absent in the Book of Esther, His orchestration is undeniably present. The verse details the immediate practical application of the king's new decree: the Jews across the empire, formerly targets of extermination, rose in unity for self-defense. Their "gathering together" was an act of obedience to the permissive decree and a display of unified resolve.

Crucially, the verse highlights the divine element through the "fear... had fallen upon all peoples." This echoes Old Testament patterns where God would infuse the enemies of Israel with dread, rendering them powerless (Exod 15:16, Josh 2:9). This was not merely psychological intimidation, but a supernatural intervention that debilitated the will and capacity of those who intended harm. Thus, the Jews' victory was not solely by their strength or strategy but profoundly aided by God turning the hearts of their adversaries to fear. This turnaround from near annihilation to a position of strength and awe serves as a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant people, even in the midst of a foreign land and apparent abandonment, reversing their desperate situation into triumphant deliverance.